Spring-Locked Bone Milling Cutter for Easy Blade Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical bone milling cutters have complex structures with numerous parts, making assembly, disassembly, and cleaning difficult, and they lack flexibility in blade replacement.

Innovation Solution

A surgical bone milling cutter with a structurally simple design featuring a spring element for direct locking of the cutting blade to the holder, minimizing parts and facilitating easy assembly, disassembly, and cleaning, along with a release tool for quick blade replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fixing methods (fixing screws, elastomer rings, spring-loaded balls) are used to secure the milling cutter, then the milling cutter can be firmly fixed to the holder, but the structure becomes complex and assembly/disassembly becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirm fixation of milling cutterVSAvoidstructure complexity and number of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fixing screw and the milling cutter into a single integrated component. The milling cutter itself is designed with an internally threaded hole that receives a fixing screw, eliminating the need for separate fixing mechanisms like elastomer rings or spring-loaded balls. This merging reduces the number of individual parts while maintaining firm fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The milling cutter holder is designed with a universal fixing mechanism that can accommodate different milling cutters through a standardized threaded interface. The fixing screw threads into the milling cutter's internally threaded hole, creating a multi-functional connection system that works with various cutter types without requiring additional specialized components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple individual parts are used in the bone milling cutter structure, then specific functions can be assigned to each part, but assembly and disassembly become more difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional specialization of partsVSAvoidassembly and disassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fixing mechanism directly into the milling cutter body through an internally threaded hole, eliminating the need for separate fixing components. This reduces the number of parts that need to be assembled and disassembled, significantly reducing the time required for blade replacement while maintaining the necessary functional specialization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a complex structure with multiple parts is used, then the bone milling cutter can achieve reliable fixation, but cleaning becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidcleanability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the fixing screw directly into the milling cutter's internally threaded hole, the patent eliminates multiple separate components that would create difficult-to-reach areas for cleaning. The simplified structure with fewer parts and fewer interfaces between components makes the entire assembly easier to clean and maintain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If traditional fixing mechanisms are used, then the milling cutter can be securely held, but blade replacement becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure holding of milling cutterVSAvoidblade replacement ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fixing screw and milling cutter into an integrated design where the screw threads directly into the cutter body. This eliminates the need for complex fixing mechanisms, allowing for quick and easy blade replacement by simply removing the single fixing screw, while still maintaining secure holding during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a bone milling cutter with reduced complexity, ease of use, and improved cleanability, enabling quick and easy blade replacement and flexible handling of joint surfaces during arthrodesis procedures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one spring element (9) designed as an annular spring element which penetrates the milling cutter (4) in the axial direction and which in the latched state lies in circumferential locking recesses (12) in the milling cutter (4) and secures this in the axial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2620108B1Bone milling tool, assorted set and system with bone milling tool

Publication Date: 2017.05.03 ZIMMER GMBH

Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~2g
Figure 3a~3f

AI summary

The surgical bone cutter (1) has a spring element provided as a fixing unit, and is provided with a locking unit for locking a cutter blade (4) on a rotatable cutter blade holder in releasable manner. The cutter blade holder and the cutter blade are provided for producing a concave or convex milling contour in the bone. The spring element is constructed and arranged such that the spring element is tensioned in the radial direction on setting or releasing a milling portion, and is accommodated in a recess (12) in a locked state. An independent claim is included for a system with a cutting tool.